Taylor Swift’s 11 albums are each filled with heartbreak, lyrical genius, and the type of stories that linger long after the final note. Whether you love getting lost in the lyrics or just love to vibe to the beats and melodies, these 11 books will give you the same emotions and feelings, but in literary form. There’s something here for every type of Swiftie who’s looking for the feeling of her musical genius in their next read.
Taylor Swift
Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
Open Road Summer is basically the literary twin of Taylor Swift’s debut album. Reagan joins her country star best friend, Dee, on a summer tour through the country after a breakup that left her heartbroken. “Teardrops on My Guitar” and “Tim McGraw” are the two songs from this album that come to mind when thinking about this book, because between the small town charm and complicated first loves, Reagan is simply just looking to chase something new. Open Road Summer carries the same mix of sweetness and charm that made Taylor Swift’s debut album carry on through the decades.
Fearless
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Taylor Swift’s second album, Fearless, is full of butterflies, immense feelings, and those moments that make you feel like you’re running headfirst into love despite the consequences. Better Than the Movies follows Liz, a quirky teenage girl who is determined to score her dream prom date, but when her annoying neighbor Wes agrees to help her out, the last thing she expects is the slow-burn feelings that begin poking at her heart. “You Belong With Me” and “Today Was a Fairytale” are the two songs that remind me of this book with their perfect blend of daydream romance and the funny feeling of realizing that the love you’ve been seeking you’re whole life might have been right there in front of you the whole time.
Speak Now
Enchanted To Meet You by Meg Cabot
Just from the title alone, Enchanted To Meet You has the dramatic and magical feel of Taylor Swift’s 3rd album Speak Now. Enchanted To Meet You follows Jess, who never expected to be the “Chosen One” or find herself wrapped up with the handsome and untrustworthy WCW member, Derrick, who finds himself in her small town. But when their chemistry turns fiery, the lyrics of “Sparks Fly” and “Enchanted” remind me of how love and choosing to step into your own magic are exactly what a true romance story needs.
Red
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Swift’s Red is a mix of so many things, but at its core, it’s bold, aching, and heartbreaking. The album reminds me so much of Evelyn’s story, which is full of boundless love affairs, heartbreaking losses, and the types of regrets that last a lifetime. Songs like “Red” and “Sad Beautiful Tragic” are the ones that come to mind when thinking about Evelyn’s rollercoaster relationships, and just like Red, this book captures the highs of passion and the gutwrenching lows of betrayal. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a perfect pick for readers who are looking for a love story that is both burning red and will break you hard.
1989
French Kissing In New York by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
French Kissing In New York is the closest that you’ll ever come to stepping directly into Taylor Swift’s 1989. Both romantic and vibrating with the magic of New York City, French Kissing in New York follows Margot’s whirlwind night in Paris and her search for a man named Zach in New York. Songs like “Welcome To New York” and “I Wish You Would” carry the same feelings of summer love and hopeful energy that this book holds. French Kissing In New York is all about taking risks, following your heart, and discovering that both love and a new city can surprise you in ways that you never expected, just like 1989.
Reputation
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Yellowface is full of Reputation energy with its sharp, clever, and morally gray tale that follows June’s hopeless ambition and the secrets she swears to keep to protect her stolen success from the story she stole from her late friend Athena. Songs such as “Look What You Made Me Do” and “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” mirror the same tense and scheming energy of June’s deception. Just like Reputation, Yellowface explores the consequences of fame, power, and the extent to which people will go to protect their image.
Lover
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Right off the bat, this book reminds me of the song “London Boy” as it radiates the same bright and romantic feels of Alex and Henry’s forbidden romance. Red, White & Royal Blue follows First Son of the United States Alex Perez and Royal Prince Henry, whose relationship quickly went from enemies to friends to lovers. Other songs that remind me of their love story are “Paper Rings” and “I Think He Knows,” which are both songs that give me the feeling of an all-consuming love that makes your heart burn. Full of political drama and complicated family ties, Red, White & Royal Blue goes beyond a basic love story as it’s a story that celebrates LGBTQ+ love, which was a main theme of Taylor Swift’s Lover.
Folklore
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is Folklore in a book. Both bittersweet and filled with those quiet, aching moments that linger, the story follows Addie, who made a deal with the devil to never be remembered. Addies’ century-long struggle reminds me of songs like “This Is Me Trying” and “Hoax” as they blend together the feelings of longing and heartbreak. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is a tragic tale of love, loss, and regret as it teaches readers a lesson on the way we leave our mark on the world, even when we don’t think anyone is watching.
Evermore
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Where the Crawdads Sing is quite literally Evermore in a book. It’s both atmospheric and haunting and is a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Where the Crawdads Sing follows Kya, a lonely and wild girl who was raised amongst nature in the marsh, who finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Songs like “No Body, No Crime” and “Ivy” carry the same mystery and heartbreak that this book carries and blend folklore, heartache, and strength into a work of art that feels everlasting, which makes it a perfect read for fans of Taylor Swift’s most isolating album.
Midnights
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Swift’s Midnights album is all about the messy, self-destructive, and glamorous vibe of the 70s, and Daisy Jones and the Six is no different. Daisy Jones and the Six follows the band members of a famous 70s band whose lives revolved around Daisy’s messy rise to fame and her complicated connection with Billy. Songs such as “Maroon” and “Labyrinth” remind me of the late-night confessions that Billy and Daisy would share, along with ambition, heartbreak, and the highs and lows of love, fame, and what it truly means to achieve your dreams in any way necessary. Daisy Jones and the Six is the book that will give you the same sleepless and vulnerable feeling that Midnights has given listeners since its release in 2022.
The Tortured Poets Department
Emily Dickinson: Letters by Emily Dickinson
It’s no secret that Taylor Swift’s most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department, is her most lyrical to date, but it also reminds me so heavily of the lyricism that Emily Dickinson used in her own poems and letters. Emily Dickinson: Letters goes beyond the poetry that we know Emily Dickinson for, but it showcases the quiet intensity of her everyday life as she tends daily to her garden, grieves losses, and constantly seeks a connection in a world that misunderstood her. It’s the same haunting and raw mix of vulnerability that Taylor Swift used in songs such as “loml” and “I Hate It Here,” which makes it the perfect companion read for anyone, like me, who’s obsessed with Taylor Swift’s most vulnerable album.
Whether you’re looking for heartache, a fiery romance, or a haunting story, these eleven books capture the same emotions and lyrical genius that have made Taylor Swift’s albums timeless.
Looking for more Taylor Swift? Check out our article, 10 Powerful Stories of Strength and Reclamation Inspired by Taylor Swift!
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